Is it wrong to fire someone from a Catholic school because they live common-law?

Question

My girlfriend got fired from the Catholic school she works at because we live common-law. Yet, the school employs non-Catholics. All staff are required to live in accordance with Catholic teachings, but how can non-Catholics be expected to follow a religion they arern't part of.? Does this sound fair? Should we try and pursue this matter legally?

Answer 1

Is it wrong?

Morally: yes
Legally: probably not. Catholic schools are usually private, so the terms of employment don't have to meet all of the standards that public schools do.

Also, it may depend on her job, for instance if the non-Catholics are support staff, but your girlfriend is a teacher, then the issue may have to due with "influencing the children."

Answer 2

Morally no.

Legally maybe. It depends on the applicable state and federal laws.

Most Catholic school employees sign a form with a "morals" clause that states something like:

Because all Catholic school employees represent the Roman Catholic Church, they are expected to conduct themselves according to the goals and mission of the Church in performing their work.

By living with you outside of marriage, your girlfriend is conducting herself in a manner contrary to the goals and mission of the Church.

If she did not want to follow the "morals" clause of the employment contract, then she should not have taken the job.

Consider it also from the point of view of the parents of the students. You are sacrificing many things to pay a lot of money for the educational, spiritual and moral development of your children.

What do you consider an immoral person? Would you want to sacrifice many things to pay a lot of money for this immoral person to guide the educational, spiritual and moral development of your children for 5 or 6 hours a day?

With love in Christ.